Jackson County Missouri

JOURNAL

Jackson County Courthouse

415 E.12th Street, 2nd floor

Kansas City, Missouri 64106

(816)881-3242

County Legislature

DaRon McGee (4th) Chairman,

Donna Peyton (2nd AL) Vice Chairman,

Jalen Anderson (1st AL), Megan L. Marshall (3rd AL),

Manuel Abarca IV (1st), Venessa Huskey (2nd),

Charlie Franklin (3rd), Jeanie Lauer (5th)

Sean E. Smith (6th)

Office of

Mary Jo Spino

Clerk of the County Legislature

Monday, March 24, 2025

3:00 PM

Eighth Regular Meeting

K.C. Legislative Assembly Area, Kansas City, Missouri

DaRon McGee, Chairman, called the meeting of the Jackson County Legislature to order.

ROLL CALL

Present 9 -

DaRon McGee, Donna Peyton, Jalen Anderson, Megan L. Marshall,

Manuel Abarca IV, Venessa Huskey, Charlie Franklin, Sean E.

Smith and Jeanie Lauer

THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

Recited.

APPROVAL OF THE JOURNAL OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING

A motion was made by Jeanie Lauer, seconded by Sean E. Smith to

approve the journal of the previous meeting held on March 18, 2025. The

motion passed by a voice vote.

HEARINGS

None.

COMMUNICATIONS WITH AND REPORTS OF THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE

Caleb Clifford, Chief of Staff, said he had no reports. Frank White Jr.,

County Executive, was not present.

Manuel Abarca IV, County Legislator, asked about the invitation received by

legislators to Lights, Camera, Action Volunteer Appreciation dinner

sponsored by the Parks + Rec Department. He asked Mr. Clifford about the

operation and maintenance component of this event since there is no

budget currently. Mr. Clifford said he was happy to look into it and provide

an answer to Legislator Abarca but he could not answer off the cuff.

Mr. Abarca followed up on a question from last week regarding the ARPA

allocation (Ordinance #5955). He said the Ordinance, passed late in 2024,

stated a fund was to be created immediately by the County Executive and

50% of the total amount ($70 million) was to be appropriated into each

designated fund. This has not been done, which is a violation of County

ordinance which was adopted by the County Legislature and signed by the

County Executive. He asked the Chief of Staff what has prevented the

Administration from following the ordinance. Caleb Clifford said the 2025

budget has not been adopted yet so the plan from the beginning was to

amend the 2025 budget to include the additional line items, as they were not

anticipated when the budget recommendation was made. He said state law

allows us to amend the budget to add the items.

Mr. Abarca asked the Chief of Staff the whereabouts of the County

Executive. Mr. Clifford said he did not know.

Donna Peyton, County Legislator, said she is concerned about the request

to have follow-up on questions presented to the Administration that require

additional information. She said information requested by the County

Legislature is not frivolous. The Legislature needs and requests information

so they can proceed effectively. The questions are in the minutes/journal.

Considering the value of ongoing communication and follow-up of

information, she asked the administration how they would like to proceed so

the administration can stay informed and the Legislature can keep track of

information. She said the Legislature can ask the Clerk of the County

Legislature to include them in the journal or on the agenda. Caleb Clifford

said the questions from Legislator Peyton are important. He said it is

something if a meeting of the minds between the County administration and

legislature would be valuable not only for the operations of the County

Legislature but also for the operations of county staff so they understand the

expectations to be followed. He said they welcome discussions with

Legislator Peyton and other legislators to determine the best method

forward. He said once the 2025 budget is adopted and they are able to

bring back staffing within the Administration that will be helpful. He said with

extended leaves and vacancies there is a limitation to the administration’s

ability to provide services. Donna Peyton said the request from the

Legislature is clear and now it is incumbent for the administration to propose

a process so we can move forward more quickly since the push back came

from the administration. Mr. Clifford said the County Executive was trying to

be responsive to what was noted on the agenda and to see if there were any

follow-up questions.

Sean E. Smith, County Legislator, asked if Mr. Schulte is currently employed

by the County. Mr. Clifford said he is not. Mr. Smith asked if Mr. Schulte is a

contractor for Jackson County. Mr. Clifford said they are working to finalize

his contract and then he will be a contract employee. He said Mr. Schulte

may currently be under contract he is not sure. He said Mr. Schulte will be on

a short-term, limited contract but he is not sure of the current status of the

contract. Mr. Smith received an email from Mr. Schulte’s email address last

Thursday. He asked if it is County policy to terminate email access after

employees leave Jackson County. Mr. Clifford said once Mr. Schulte agreed

to the general terms of the contract, he agreed to work at risk, meaning if the

contract was not finalized he would not be due any funds. Mr. Schulte kindly

agreed to assist with projects on a volunteer basis to ensure there was not a

gap in his awareness of what was going on in Jackson County. Mr. Clifford

said Mr. Schulte is not an employee of the County. Mr. Smith said this is

concerning to him as there are several layers of risk from an IT perspective

since he is not an employee and not under contract but has access to

County emails. He asked it be noted in the record that he strongly objects to

this practice.

Sean E. Smith asked about an emergency purchase with Nearmap that was

done a few weeks ago. His understanding is that the process of notifying the

County Legislature of the emergency purchase was not followed. He asked

Mr. Clifford of his understanding of the emergency purchase provision as

stated in the Jackson County Code. Mr. Clifford asked if he was being

asked to provide the entirety of his understanding and knowledge of the

county code that he does not have in front of him and he was not cued to

before the hearing. Mr. Smith responded yes and said the purchase was

made as an emergency declaration but the County Legislature did not

receive notice as has been provided in the past. He asked if the contract

was executed for a five-year term and if so how do we justify a five-year

emergency. Mr. Clifford said he does not believe there is a requirement for

an emergency declaration but if Mr. Smith is aware of a code provision, he

can let the administration know. Mr. Clifford said he does not have the terms

in front of him, but he believes it was filed with the Clerk of the County

Legislature so Mr. Smith should have access to it. He said an emergency

declaration is about entering into the contract, it is not about the term of the

contract. Mr. Smith cited Jackson County Code Section 1030.3

"Emergency Purchases - Competitive bidding shall not be required when

the County Executive has declared in writing the purchase to be an

emergency. Purchases in excess of $25,000.00 made under the provision

of this subsection shall be reported to the County Legislature at its next

regularly scheduled meeting." The notification did not take place as stated.

An emergency purchase would be something needed to maintain

operations or address some unforeseen circumstance. If a five-year contract

is being executed under an emergency provision, it seems it exaggerates

the authority intended by this subsection.

Donna Peyton said she heard on the news today that the FIFA committee

would be releasing information today about transportation, stadiums, etc.

She asked if the administration received any information from the

committee, if Jackson County is part of the committee and if the County

Legislature will receive information from the committee. Caleb Clifford said

he did not know what information was released by the World Cup

Committee or another organization, but he could look into it. He said the

County Executive serves on a committee but not the executive committee.

He said in the past the Executive Director and staff of the FIFA Committee

have provided reports to the County Legislature and they can come before

the legislature again to provide an update but he realizes this is a busy time

for them.

Manuel Abarca IV asked who Mr. Clifford would be contacting regarding Mr.

Schulte’s contract. Mr. Clifford said different departments and county staff,

he does not know specifically. Mr. Abarca said Bryan Covinsky, County

Counselor, indicated he has not seen a contract for Mr. Schulte. Mr. Abarca

said if Mr. Clifford needs to speak with Barbara Casamento, Purchasing

Director, she is in attendance, and we can ask her today. Mr. Abarca said

Mr. Clifford always indicates he will follow up on questions asked and get

back to the County Legislature, but then he never responds. Then Mr.

Clifford complains when the County Legislature lists the items on the agenda

for follow-up. In lieu of a County Executive that is not present, the Chief of

Staff is the County Legislature’s only option. Mr. Abarca asked who exactly

is Mr. Clifford following up with. Caleb Clifford said he cannot say

specifically. Mr. Abarca asked why someone at the executive level is

allowed to work for free. He assumes Mr. Schulte has authority, duties and

access to the IT Department, which is a serious liability for the County. Mr.

Clifford reiterated his previous answer and said it was his idea to allow Mr.

Schulte access to his email account to ensure to keep the records public

and so no private email accounts would be used to conduct county business.

Mr. Abarca said this position is not equivalent to an intern position because

an intern cannot assign tasks to department heads, it is an administrative

position. He again asked what happens when there are violations of the

county code, in this case paying Mr. Schulte over the amount allowed without

legislative approval.

Manuel Abarca IV asked how many meetings the County Executive has

attended for FIFA. Caleb Clifford said he did not know. Mr. Abarca said

none. Mr. Clifford said he knows the County Executive has attended more

than none. Mr. Abarca said the County Executive has attended one meeting

for the largest event of this decade to be held in Jackson County which is

public record.

Manuel Abarca IV asked the reason for the emergency purchase. Caleb

Clifford said there should be a memo from the department explaining the

emergency and approved by the County Executive. Mr. Abarca said it is for

GIS data in a parcel viewer that Jackson County owns. He asked why it was

an emergency declaration to get the same data. Mr. Clifford referred him to

the memo. Mr. Abarca asked why an emergency purchase is necessary for

five years in the total amount of $500,000.00 for a technology he can

currently access on his phone. DaRon McGee asked Bryan Covinsky if he

provided the memo on the emergency purchase. Mr. Covinsky said he

would need to review it. He said he did not write the memo but someone

from his office may have been involved.

PERFECTION OF PROPOSED ORDINANCES AND REPORTS OF COMMITTEE

5904

AN ORDINANCE repealing Section 5577., Jackson County Code, 1984,

relating to possession of firearms and age restriction, and to enact in lieu

thereof two new sections, Sections 5577. and 5578., relating to the same

subject, with a severability clause and a penalty provision.

(Legislature As A Whole - 18th Perfection)

5909

AN ORDINANCE submitting to the qualified voters of Jackson County,

Missouri, at the primary election to be held on August 5, 2025, a question to

amend the Jackson County Charter, with an effective date.

(Legislature As A Whole - 9th Perfection)

A motion was made by Sean E. Smith, seconded by Manuel Abarca IV, to

move Ordinance #5958 from the Intergovernmental Affairs Committee to the

Legislature As A Whole Committee. The motion passed by a roll call vote:

Yes: 9 - DaRon McGee, Donna Peyton, Jalen Anderson, Megan L. Marshall,

Manuel Abarca IV, Venessa Huskey, Charlie Franklin, Jeanie Lauer and

Sean E. Smith

5958

Requiring the Jackson County Assessor to provide an Assessment Roll that

complies with the Missouri State Tax Commission’s Order and rolls back

the 2023 value of any parcel that exceeded a 15% increase in 2023 to be

changed and to be valued at no more than 15% more than the 2022 property

value.

(Assigned to the Legislature As A Whole.)

5965

5966

AN ORDINANCE repealing subsections 2066.6., 2066.7., and 2066.8.,

Jackson County Code, 1984, relating to a senior tax credit, and enacting, in

lieu thereof, four new subsections relating to the same subject.

(Finance and Audit Committee - 3rd. Perfection)

AN ORDINANCE appropriating $1,688,456.00 from the undesignated fund

balance of the General Fund, $293,956.00 from the undesignated fund

balance of the Health Fund, $708,172.00 from the undesignated fund

balance of the Anti-Crime Sales Tax Fund, and making the necessary

transfers within the General Fund, Health Fund, Anti-Crime Sales Tax Fund,

and the County Improvement Fund to provide the Circuit Court, Family Court,

and Family Court Facilities with their portion of the 2025 Recommended

Budget.

(Budget Committee - 3rd. Perfection)

5967

AN ORDINANCE repealing subsections 7401.2., 7405.4., and 7406.5.,

Jackson County Code, 1984, relating to protections against retaliation for

complaints, cooperating with complaint investigations, and amending the

discretionary authority to decline a complaint and enacting, in lieu thereof,

three new subsections relating to the same subject.

(Inter-Governmental Affairs Committee - 2nd. Perfection)

FINAL PASSAGE OF PROPOSED ORDINANCES

5959

AN ORDINANCE appropriating $71,751.00 from the undesignated fund

balance of the 2025 General Fund in acceptance of the Missouri Western

Interdiction and Narcotics Task Force grant awarded by the Missouri

Department of Public Safety.

(PERFECTED)

RESOLUTIONS IN COMMITTEE

21641

A RESOLUTION authorizing the County Executive or the Chairman of the

Legislature to sell the County-owned property located at 1300 Washington

Street, Kansas City, MO 64105 via the competitive bidding process.

(Legislature As A Whole - 37th Meeting)

21766

A RESOLUTION transferring $49,500.00 within the 2024 General Fund and

authorizing a contract to cover the cost of consultation and proposal services

to Colette Holt & Associates Law Firm of San Antonio, TX, at a cost to the

County not to exceed $49,500.00.

(Legislature As A Whole - 24th Meeting)

A motion was made by Sean E. Smith, seconded by Manuel Abarca IV, to

move Resolution #21843 from the Intergovernmental Affairs Committee to

the Legislature As A Whole Committee. The motion passed by a roll call

vote:

Yes: 9 - DaRon McGee, Donna Peyton, Jalen Anderson, Megan L. Marshall,

Manuel Abarca IV, Venessa Huskey, Charlie Franklin, Jeanie Lauer and

Sean E. Smith

21843

21846

Requiring the Jackson County property cards provided by the Assessment

Department to include photographs of the property inspection and related

property comparable sales that were used to determine the Fair Market

Value (FMV) and property classification.

(Assigned to the Legislature As A Whole.)

A RESOLUTION authorizing a twelve-month extension to the term and

supply contract for the furnishing of automotive parts for use countywide to

AutoZone of Memphis, TN, under the terms and conditions of OMNIA

Partners Contract No. R211201, an existing competitively-bid government

contract.

(Finance and Audit Committee - 8th. Meeting)

A motion was made by Sean E. Smith, seconded by Manuel Abarca IV, to

waive the reading of Resolutions #21850 through #21857, #21860, #21864,

#21869 through #21881.The motion passed by a roll call vote:

Yes: 6 - DaRon McGee, Donna Peyton, Manuel Abarca IV, Venessa

Huskey, Charlie Franklin and Sean E. Smith

No: 3 - Jalen Anderson, Megan L. Marshall and Jeanie Lauer

21850

21851

A RESOLUTION declaring certain real property as surplus real property and

authorizing the Administration to solicit bids for selling the six surplus

parcels.

(Finance and Audit Committee - 7th. Meeting)

A RESOLUTION transferring $25,500.00 within the 2025 Park Fund for

offsite server hosting services provided by Vermont Systems Inc. for use by

the Parks + Rec Department.

(Finance and Audit Committee - 7th. Meeting)

21852

21853

21854

A RESOLUTION awarding a twelve-month term and supply contract, with

one twelve-month option to extend, for the furnishing of professional

mortuary services for use by the Public Administrator to Charter Funerals of

Missouri, LLC of Kansas City, MO, under the terms and conditions of

Request for Proposals No. 24-085.

(Finance and Audit Committee - 7th. Meeting)

A RESOLUTION awarding a twenty-four-month term and supply contract,

with one twelve-month option to extend, for the furnishing of HVAC filters for

use by various County departments, as a split award to Kansas City Air

Filter of Kansas City, MO and Inspection Experts, Inc., of Columbia,

Maryland, under the terms and conditions of Invitation to Bid No. 24-081.

(Finance and Audit Committee - 7th. Meeting)

A RESOLUTION awarding a twenty-four-month term and supply contract,

with two twelve-month options to extend, for the furnishing of office furniture

for use by various County departments, as a split award to Encompas

Corporation, Kansas City Office Design, LLC, K&M Office Products dba

Office Products Alliance, Color Art Integrated Interiors of Kansas City, LLC,

dba Scott Rice Office Works, all of Kansas City, MO and Rangle Distributing

of Kansas City, KS, under the terms and conditions of Invitation to Bid No.

24-091.

(Finance and Audit Committee - 7th. Meeting)

21855

21856

A RESOLUTION transferring $36,300.00 within the 2025 Park Fund to

purchase supplies at Lowe’s Home Improvement for use by the Parks + Rec

Department.

(Finance and Audit Committee - 7th. Meeting)

A RESOLUTION awarding a five-year contract for the furnishing of ortho and

oblique aerial imagery for use by various County departments to Nearmap

U.S., Inc., of Lehi, Utah, at an actual cost to the County of $100,000.00, as a

sole source purchase.

(Finance and Audit Committee - 7th. Meeting)

21857

A RESOLUTION awarding a twenty-four-month term and supply contract,

with one twelve-month option to extend, for the furnishing of miscellaneous

pipes and plumbing supplies for use by various County departments to

Reeves-Wiedeman Company of Kansas City, Missouri, under the terms and

conditions of Invitation to Bid No. 24-088.

(Finance and Audit Committee - 7th. Meeting)

21860

21864

A RESOLUTION declaring certain real property as surplus real property and

authorizing the Administration to solicit bids for selling the surplus parcels.

(Budget Committee - 6th. Meeting)

A RESOLUTION authorizing the County Executive to execute a contract with

the Jackson County Board of Services for the Developmentally Disabled to

provide for partial funding of various Parks + Rec Department's Special

Population Services Division programs.

(Legislature As A Whole - 4th. Meeting)

21869

21870

21871

A RESOLUTION authorizing the Jackson County Sheriff to execute a

contract for services with the Family Court Division of the 16th Circuit Court

of Missouri to provide deputies to assist with the Family Court’s

Connections supervised visitation program.

(Justice and Law Enforcement Committee - 4th. Meeting)

A RESOLUTION awarding a month-to-month contract extension for the

furnishing of food service at the Jackson County Detention Center to Trinity

Services Group of Oldsmar, Florida, under the terms and conditions of

Invitation to Bid No. 27-21.

(Justice and Law Enforcement Committee - 4th. Meeting)

A RESOLUTION awarding a twenty-four-month term and supply contract,

with two twelve-month options to extend, for the furnishing of calcium

chloride pellets and rock salt supplies for use by various County

departments, to Nu-Life Labs, Inc. of Kansas City, Missouri and Humana

Chemicals, Inc. of Potomac, Maryland, under the terms and conditions of

Invitation to Bid No. 24-087.

(Budget Committee - 4th. Meeting)

21872

A RESOLUTION awarding a twelve-month term and supply contract, with

three twelve-month options to extend, for the furnishing of electrical supplies

for use by various County departments to Graybar Electric Company of St.

Louis, MO, under the terms and conditions of the City of Kansas City,

Missouri contract No. EV2370, an existing competitively bid government

contract.

(Budget Committee - 4th. Meeting)

21873

A RESOLUTION awarding a twelve-month term and supply contract, with

two twelve-month options to extend, for the furnishing of softball umpire

services for use by the Parks + Rec Department to Eastern Jackson County

USSSA Umpire Association of Independence, MO, as a sole source

purchase.

(Land Use Committee - 4th. Meeting)

21874

21875

A RESOLUTION awarding a twenty-four-month term and supply contract,

with two twelve-month options to extend, for the furnishing of trash removal

service for use by various County departments to Waste Management of

Kansas, Inc., under the terms and conditions of Invitation to Bid 24-096.

(Public Works Committee - 4th. Meeting)

A RESOLUTION awarding a twelve-month term and supply contract, with

three twelve-month options to extend, for the furnishing of body

transportation services for use by the Medical Examiner’s Office to First Call

of Kansas City, MO, under the terms and conditions of Invitation to Bid No.

24-082.

(Finance and Audit Committee - 4th. Meeting)

21876

A RESOLUTION authorizing the County Executive to execute an

Intergovernmental Agreement with the Mid-America Regional Council Solid

Waste Management District to provide access to the regional household

hazardous waste centers for the residents of the unincorporated areas of

Jackson County, at an actual cost to the County in the amount of

$26,761.00.

(Finance and Audit Committee - 3rd. Meeting)

21877

A RESOLUTION awarding a twenty-four-month term and supply contract,

with two twelve-month options to extend, for the furnishing of paint and

painting supplies for use by various County departments to PPG

Architectural Finishes, Inc. of Columbia, MO and Sherwin Williams of

Cleveland, OH, under the terms and conditions of Invitation to Bid No.

25-003.

(Finance and Audit Committee - 3rd. Meeting)

21878

21879

A RESOLUTION awarding a contract for annual software maintenance for

use by the Sheriff’s Office and Department of Corrections to Lexipol, LLC, of

Frisco, TX, at an actual cost to the County in the amount of $57,992.00, as a

sole source purchase.

(Justice and Law Enforcement Committee - 3rd. Meeting)

A RESOLUTION awarding a twenty-four-month term and supply contract,

with one twelve-month option to extend, for the furnishing of bottled water

and dispenser services for use by various County departments to Metro

Pure Water, LLC of Smithville, MO and DS Services of America dba Primo

Water North America of Mableton, GA, under the terms and conditions of

Invitation to Bid No. 24-079.

(Finance and Audit Committee - 2nd. Meeting)

21880

A RESOLUTION awarding a thirty-one-month term and supply contract, with

two twelve-month options to extend, for the furnishing of Maintenance,

Repair, and Operations (MRO) supplies, equipment, and related products

and services for use by various County departments to Lowe’s Home

Centers, LLC, of Mooresville, NC under the terms and conditions of Lowe’s

OMNIA Partners Cooperative Program Contract No. R240805, an existing

government contract.

(Finance and Audit Committee - 2nd. Meeting)

21881

A RESOLUTION awarding a twenty-four-month term and supply contract,

with one twelve-month option to extend, for the furnishing of fuel dispensing

equipment services for use by various County departments to Petroleum

Equipment, Inc., of Kansas City, MO, under the terms and conditions of

Invitation to Bid No. 24-078.

(Finance and Audit Committee - 2nd. Meeting)

CONSENT AGENDA

None.

INTRODUCTION OF PROPOSED ORDINANCES AND ASSIGNMENT TO COMMITTEE

5968

Repealing subsections 2066.6., 2066.7., and 2066.8., Jackson County

Code, 1984, relating to a senior tax credit, and enacting, in lieu thereof, five

new subsections relating to the same subject.

(Assigned to the Finance and Audit Committee.)

INTRODUCTION OF PROPOSED RESOLUTIONS AND ASSIGNMENT TO COMMITTEE

None.

COUNTY EXECUTIVE ORDERS

None.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

Megan L. Marshall, County Legislator, asked for a summary of the

differences between Ordinance #5968 and Ordinance #5965. DaRon

McGee said Ordinance #5968 has an exclusion for the Blind Pension Fund

which is required by state law and cannot be exempt.

Megan L. Marshall asked to be included as a sponsor of Ordinance #5968.

She said next week she will withdraw Ordinance #5965 since it is no longer

necessary.

NEW BUSINESS